Study: Waiting for Results Is Most Stressful Part of Mammography

The most stressful part of getting a mammography for many women is waiting for the results, according to a new report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center questioned 200 women, ranging in age from 40 to 98, immediately after a screening mammography about the pain they experienced, the difference between their experience and their expectations, and the most stressful part of the entire procedure.

Three-quarters of the women reported the pain to rank 4 or less on a scale of 0 to 10, although more than 30 percent reported a pain score of 5 or higher specifically during compression of the breasts.

But a surprisingly high 96 percent of the women reported that the pain was "less than" or "about as expected."

Asked about the most stressful part of the procedure, 39 percent of the women reported that it was waiting for the results of the mammogram.

But in all, the researchers reported that 94 percent said they were "very likely or somewhat likely to get a mammogram next year."

"The relatively low level of pain reported is useful information for both patients and practitioners," the researchers concluded. "Adherence to screening recommendations is more likely to occur when both parties are able to anticipate the most painful and stressful elements of mammography."

Other sources: Archives of Internal Medicine